29 Tips Towards A Stress-Free Holiday

Relax and enjoy the festivities for a change

By Woman's Day Staff

With the gift-giving, the cooking, the decorations and the parties, the holidays can seem to be more like work than a vacation. We've asked the experts, and here's how to make the most of your holiday season.

Seek a Fresh Perspective1. Make a change. Take one task that drives you crazy during the holidays and tackle it in a new way. A fresh approach just might make a difference. For example, if you dread having to send out holiday cards, enlist your husband and split the list.

2. Be satisfied with good enough. Dont always go for bigger and better, when planning your holiday, advises Loretta LaRoche, author of Life Is Not a Stress Rehearsal. Does the tree have to be bussed in from the hinterlands of Alaska? she quips. Isnt a little bush enough?

3. Throw away your shopping list. LaRoche forgoes the stress of shopping for family members in favor of sharing special moments and experiences. She may treat loved ones to a holiday show, for example, or breakfast at a fancy hotel. Instead of having a package to rip open, we have this wonderful day together, she says.

Desperation Decorating4. Bring out books to easily add a seasonal touch. Prominently display an illustrated volume of A Christmas Carol on a living room shelf or the fireplace mantel. Place a basket topped with a bow and filled with childrens Chanukah books on the coffee table.

5. Use whats on hand. Create a gallery of pretty packages by gently wrapping framed photographs or prints in creamy ivory or festive foil gift wrap. Trim with ribbon or frothy netting tied in a bow. Hang the pictures back on their original hooks and voilà!youve just decked the halls.

6. Go monochrome. A brainless, stress-free way to decorate is to chose a color (red, green, blue) and run with it, says Courtney Zellmer, floral manager at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. For example, turn a simple bouquet of red carnations into an eye-catching arrangement by adding red glass gemstones to a vase and a few drops of red food coloring to the water.

Surviving the Social Whirl 7. Know when to say no. We only say yes to meaningful events that focus on the holiday and bring the whole family together, says Caroline Solarski, a mom from Alpharetta, Georgia.

8. Keep gatherings small and intimate. Get together with a few of your closest friends or relatives for the holidays. Choose to throw the big blowout parties at another time of the year, when you and your guests will have fewer commitments competing for your precious time.

9. Take advantage of timesavers. Order your local delis tangy side salad or the bakerys pumpkin pie to complement your main course. Adeline Rosemire, author of Christmas Shortcuts, once went one step further and hosted a holiday dinner in which everythingthe appetizers, smoked turkey, bread and dessertshad been ordered from gourmet food catalogs and required little or no preparation.

10. Stick with the tried and true. A special gathering is not the time to experiment with a new recipe. Just do what you know how to do and can do well, says Caroline, who includes basic mashed potatoes on the menu because its a family favorite. She also keeps the table setting simple, adding a seasonal touch with a single Christmas centerpiece and festive napkins. Focus on the fellowship of the people youre gathering with, and dont stress out on the preparations and menu, she says.

11. Dont hesitate to ask for help. In fact, guests prefer to take on some small tasks, instead of standing around while you attempt to do everything yourself. Ask an older relative if hed mind greeting guests at the door. Recruit teens to take coats or offer fruit juice. Kids may direct guests to the buffet table or offer hors doeuvres.

The Shopping Showdown12. Go with a game plan. Log on to your local malls Web site and download a map and directory of stores. Before you go, plot your path and make a list of potential presents. While at the mall, avoid excessive browsing since it can quickly eat up your available time, not to mention money. Lastly, always bring along advertising circulars in case theres a question about an items availability or price.

13. Bring only the essentials. Since youll be hauling shopping bags by days end, consider carrying your wallet and ads in a zippered waist pack or a small, light handbag. Tuck receipts in one place, perhaps a compartment in your handbag or a brightly colored envelope.

14. Seek the out-of-the-way cashier. G. Gaynor McTigue, author of Why Make Yourself Crazy?, offers this tip for braving the malls: Avoid long lines by seeking out a stores hidden cashier. I always seem to find a courtesy counter or service desk where theyll gladly ring up purchases. Its usually in a place thats less obvious, generally at the back of the store, says McTigue.

15. Leave assembly to the experts. Allow a stores staff to put together the some-assembly-required gifts youve purchased, even if you must pay a fee. They can do it fast, they can do it correctly, they can do it in their sleep, and you cant, says McTigue.

16. Bring along a positive attitude. One persons dour complaint while waiting at a register can set the whole line grumbling. Conversely, a smile, a compliment to a fellow shopper or a remark about the stores festive decorations may help lift everyones spirits.

The Great Wrap-Up17. Request free gift wrapping. Stores dont always publicize this service, so be sure to ask.

18. Seek out charity gift-wrapping services. Nonprofit organizations often set up booths at malls or craft shows and will wrap presents for a fee. Take advantage of their services and youll save yourself one task while contributing to a worthy cause.

19. Stock up. Buy multiples of tape, extra gift tags and more wrapping paper than you think youll need. Nothing is more frustrating than running out of supplies with the job half done, and you can always save the leftovers for next year.

20. Reward yourself while wrapping. Put on your favorite video or DVD, light the tree and pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa topped with real whipped cream. Assure yourself that you deserve a treat for all the work youre about to undertake.

Care for Yourself21. Hold on to daily rituals. If you like to read for half an hour before bed, dont give it up in favor of yet another holiday chore. Our everyday practices help calm and center us.

22. Schedule a break. During the busy holiday season, Brenda DeHaan of Wagner, South Dakota, and her husband seek out one afternoon of serenity. Each year the couple embarks on a leisurely drive, with a stop to observe the eagles that winter alongside the Missouri River. Its a peaceful time, when we dont worry about rushing anywhere, says Brenda. Cant escape for a whole afternoon? Then head outdoors for a refreshing change of scene. Bundle up and walk to the mailbox to drop off Christmas cards, or take a starlit nighttime stroll through your neighborhood to view the holiday lights.

23. Make one more commitment. Donna Wallace of Shawano, Wisconsin, found that adding, rather than deleting, something from her to-do list made her Christmas feel less hectic. One year, she joined her church choir for the express purpose of singing with others in praise and celebration of the season. It grounds you to acknowledge the spiritual side, says Donna.

Homeward Bound24. Pack smart. Tuck everyones sleepwear and toothbrushes in one easy-to-reach bag. That first night when you arrive at Grandmas house or another destination, you wont be fumbling through every suitcase before bedtime.

25. Stay safe along the way. Ensure your vehicle is in good running order for the trip by checking belts, hoses, air pressure, fluid levels and windshield wipers, says AAA spokesperson Jerry Cheske. Contact your auto club, the state police agency or highway patrol regarding road closings or conditions.

26. End airport hassles. Simplify air travel by arriving up to two hours early for domestic flights and up to three hours for international flights. To avoid parking hassles, get someone to drive you to and from the airport, if possible, advises Cheske. If youre picking up a holiday guest, sign up online for a traveler care alert. Some Web sites, including Orbitz.com, will automatically contact you via phone, e-mail or pager to give you updated flight information.

27. Choose travel-proof gifts. With security restrictions at airports being what they are, make it easy on yourself and give gift certificates. Or mail your gifts ahead of time. Rosemire orders gifts online or from catalogs and has the companies send them directly to her holiday destination. Either way, youll save room in your suitcase.

And Dont Forget 28. Remember to have fun. As you take part in trimming the tree or preparing the Chanukah cookies with your kids, take a deep breath and savor the moment. Give yourself permission to forget about all those tasks still left on your to-do list.

29. Record what worked. Jot down any tricks or practices that went over especially well this holiday. Keep a notebook from year to year, detailing your own secrets for a sacred, successful and stress-free celebration.

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